Heh, heh... I bet that old guy knows exactly where to be in the pack in the last 5-laps and exactly who to be behind (the guy that's going to get 2nd ).

One good tactic for crits I've found is to be on the inside and start pedaling earlier on the exit than anyone else. I can easily pass up the guys ahead of me who are still coasting towards the outside. I'll cut in a little tighter on the exit, start pedaling sooner and gain 2-3 positions and cut back in before the speed picks up. Hitting your shoe/pedal on the ground coming out of the corner while straightening up is a LOT more controllable and safer than hitting them as you're leaning into a corner...